'My call for leaders is being answered'.

Byline: IAN DOYLE

WHEN the extent of skipper Phil Neville's knee ligament injury became apparent, there was one concern that leapt into the mind of David Moyes.

"I want to see who is going to step up to the mantle and take over as a leader," said the Goodison manager. "We've lost someone who leads by example on and off the field. I'm looking to see what players will take on that role."

The evidence so far suggests Moyes has nothing to be worried about.

Leon Osman grabbed at his chance to be captain in midweek, scoring in the 4-0 Carling Cup romp against Hull City.

Joseph Yobo, absent on Wednesday, had skippered the side in their previous two games, and also netted on both occasions in helping the side claim similarly emphatic victories against AEK Athens and Blackburn Rovers.

Yobo, should he recover from a slight hamstring strain, is likely to regain the armband for this afternoon's trip to rock-bottom Portsmouth.

And Moyes has been encouraged by the response to his call for leadership.

"I said the other week that if someone wanted to be skipper, I wanted them to show it," says the Everton manager.

"I thought Ossie showed that against Hull. He really wanted to show that he wanted to be in that position, and because of that I thought his performance rose.

"The same applies to Joe Yobo the week before, as he scored a couple of goals in the two games he has been captain.

"What I've asked for, I've seen. If I make someone else captain, hopefully I'll see the same from them as well.

"I've already said I want more leaders. I want more players to take ownership of the team. Phil definitely takes ownership of the team, he wants the job, he thrives on it and he needs it. And I want to see other players need it."

Yobo has quickly struck up a centre-back partnership with new signing Sylvain Distin, who has impressed since his move from Portsmouth last month.

The Frenchman returns to Fratton Park for the first time since his departure having earned praise for his quick acclimatisation at Goodison.

"We have been pleased with Sylvain," says Moyes. "It has been a good move for us and for him, I hope. It's never easy to move to a new club, but he plays like he has been here for two years and not two weeks or so.

"He'll probably find things slightly different here at Everton, but I hope he will think it's a good move for him at this stage of his career.

"He has the experience in the Premier League to be able to go straight into the team. He understands what is required in the Premier League.

"With new players such as John Heitinga and Diniyar Bilyaletdinov you are never quite sure what they will be like, but because Sylvain has the experience, as a manager you feel more secure putting him in. Sylvain will have come here and seen a settled side and a settled club.

"But prior to this season, Portsmouth have been relatively settled and it's only in the last six months there have been upheaval."

Crisis-hit Portsmouth are already adrift at the bottom of the Premier League having lost all six games after a summer in which manager Paul Hart has had no option but to allow most of his best players to leave to generate income.

Pompey are nevertheless still on the brink of administration, and Moyes says: "I have sympathy with Paul Hart. Paul knew when he took the job how difficult it would be. They have had to sell players to get money into the club, and he can't do anything about that.

"Paul has had to put a team out that can compete in the Premier League, and he's taken it on the chin.

"I do not think his task of keeping them up is out of the question. He has got in some players and now he has to try and get the best out of them. The transfer window is now shut and he can concentrate on the job of coaching players."

Moyes has previously stated Everton have benefited from the uncertainty a transfer window engenders having now dissipated.

And having scored 11 goals without reply in their last three games, the manager adds: "It's good that the goals have been coming from different areas. It has been an important aspect for us this season.

"Clean sheets are as vital as goals, but scoring goals gives you the confidence that you can get those goals and win games.

"We have not seen the best of this side and we won't see that for a while. But we are now playing more like us, and when we get back to our level then we will be a good side.

"We are beginning to get things bedded in. We have introduced one or two new players and it has taken some players time to get back to their form. It was the same at the start of last season, and let's hope things work out the same way they did last season."

Portsmouth v Everton Prem, today, 12.45pm PORTSMOUTH (from): James, Kaboul, Mokoena, Mullins, Utaka, Kanu, Begovic, Basinas, Belhadj, Vanden Borre, Piquionne, Smith, O'Hara, Brown, Boateng, Ben Haim, Williamson, Yebda, Dindane, Finnan, Webber. EVERTON (from): Howard, Yobo, Baines, Distin, Hibbert, Heitinga, Neill, Cahill, Rodwell, Pienaar, Osman, Yakubu, Jo, Fellaini, Nash, Bilyaletdinov, Vaughan, Gosling. REFEREE: Alan Wiley TELEVISION: Sky Sports 1, 12.30pm BETTING (bet365.com) Match odds: Portsmouth 16/5, Everton 10/11, Draw 12/5.First goalscorer: Louis Saha 13/2, Jo 5/1, Kevin Prince Boateng 22/1.

CAPTION(S):

Leon Osman salutes his goal against Hull City in midweek